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Video: Boks set to return to Brighton for Japan Test
The Springboks will kick off their end-of-year tour against Japan at the Brighton Community Stadium – the venue of their most shocking defeat. SIMON BORCHARDT reports.
In their opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Heyneke Meyer's Springboks suffered a 34-32 loss to Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms. Karne Hesketh scored the match-winning try in the 84th minute after Japan – then ranked 13th in the world – turned down a penalty goal that would have drawn the game.
The Boks and Brave Blossoms met again twice in 2019, with South Africa winning a world cup warm-up match in Saitama 41-7 and a quarter-final in Tokyo 26-3 en route to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.
understands that this year's Test in Brighton is scheduled for November 1, followed by matches against France (November 8), Italy (November 15), Ireland (November 22) and Wales (November 29).
Also read: Rassie to scale back on 'experiments'
The Springboks will play a total of 14 Tests – and 15 matches including the non-cap clash against the Barbarians – in 2025, a workload that head coach Rassie Erasmus has welcomed.
'We have a tough season, but we need that. We still want to filter players and give others opportunities,' he said in March.
Erasmus has already fielded 46 players in the Boks' first four matches of the season, including seven debutants.
Watch the highlights of the historic match:
The post Boks return to Brighton for Japan Test appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
